Looking at 2 boats this weekend, need opinions

[tpothen]

Hello all, I am going to look at 2 boats this weekend one is a 74 Ranger 26 and the other is a 66 Cal 25. I am leaning towards the Ranger as it is a nice looking boat. Of the 2 boats which one would you prefer? As for my experience I currently own a Chrysler 22 and have been sailing for 2 years and am fairly comfortable out to about 20 knot winds and singlehand on occasion, which boat would be a better match for me to grow into, I don’t do any racing, mainly day sails with quite a few overnights and a couple multiday trips. I have read the boat inspection tips and both boats are cheap so I will not be doing a survey; they were both forfeited to the marinas so the marina is just selling them for what they need. Thanks

[Jeff_H]

Both were great boats for their era. Both sail well. The Cal if it has been maintained, updated and is good shape should be a bit more robust. It is also more roomy down below. Ranger is faster and more fun to sail.

If you are not a professional surveryor, or else not willing to throw away far more money than you could possibly pay for one of these boats, then you are clearly overwhelmed with hubris to think of buying either boat without a survey. Boats like these can have problems that far exceed the value of the boat, potentially giving these boats a negative value if any of these major issues are present. In the worst case the cost to store and dispose of one of these boats can also far exceed thier value. Major structural issues is why boats get abandoned in the first place. A structural survey on one of these boats is cheap insurance that you won't end up chain sawing a boat and having to pay dump fees.

Respectfully,
Jeff

[Faster]

Condition issues being equal, I'd lean towards the Ranger 26 - 8 years newer, nice looking boat, as you said, and once you get to the point where you might like to try racing, it's a great PHRF 'sleeper'.

And strongly second Jeff's point about getting a proper survey in either case.

[LandLocked66c]

You'll be doing your own work, I'm assuming?

[tpothen]

Thanks all for the feed back. I am very aware of the need for a proper survey. I have restored several older boats and am very aware of what I am getting into. I am looking more for info on the boats, there's a fair amount of info on the Cal but not much on the Ranger.

[KeelHaulin]

I'd go for the Ranger; it's a much better design (not a raised/flush foredeck). I also think it would be easier to sell should you want to move up to a bigger boat later.